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In this sequel to the 1995 mobster comedy GET SHORTY, John Travolta returns as Chili Palmer, a smooth-talking loanshark turned successful movie producer. But he's tired of the film industry, and so he sets his sights on the music business, teaming up with music producer Edie (Uma Thurman)--the widow of a recently murdered colleague. Seeing great potential in an up-and-coming singer named Linda Moon (Christina Milian), Chili makes it his goal to rescue the young talent from her sleazy manager Raji (Vince Vaughn), and make her a star. But it doesn't take long for Chili to realize that in the music industry, not everybody plays by the rules. Combining organized crime and record label know-how as they infiltrate the music industry, Chili and Edie (Thurman) must free Moon from her contract with Raji and record label exec Nick Carr (Harvey Keitel), while fending off the Russian mafia and a whole slew of enemies, played by Cedric the Entertainer, and Andre Benjamin (of OutKast), among others. Director F. Gary Gray casts The Rock against type as Raji's flamboyant, aspiring-actor bodyguard, Elliot. In fact, the film's most humorous scene might be when Elliot breaks into Edie's home in order to show Chili a monologue from the film BRING IT ON. Overall, the film's tone is a self-referential one, established in the first five minutes by Chili's complaints over the nature of sequels and the PG-13 rating system itself. From here on out, the film's humor becomes more and more dependent on the audiences knowledge of all things pop culture, with a dance scene between Travolta and Thurman recalling their memorable pairing in PULP FICTION.
In this sequel to Get Shorty, former loan shark turned movie mogul Chili Palmer (John Travolta) is back, only this time he wants to get out of the movie business and into the music business. The movie starts off when he sees a buddy (James Woods) killed off by a Russian loan shark. His buddy just happens to be co-owner of a nearly bankrupt music label with wife Edie (Uma Thurman). He hooks up with her after he discovers an up and coming pop/soul singer (Christina Milian) who is managed by some bad people who have her hooked by the neck in an exploitative contract. Chili, who sees potential in the singer tries to wrangle her out of contract in order to jumpstart her career as well as Edie's label. Meanwhile several dubious interests all want their piece of the singer's future "pie" (so to speak) and all roads lead to Chili, who uses his "shylock" ways to keep them at bay until something pans out.
Vince Vaughn as Raji the wannabe pimp poser (whose character does his best impression of an impressionist trying to impersonate a black guy) is golden. His performances with The Rock (who is in fact talented enough to actually pull off playing a huge homosexual Samoan bodyguard who is eager to break into the entertainment business) are some of the brightest spots in the film. In fact, what I just wrote was an understatement. Their performances together WERE the brightest spots of the film. Also surprisingly noteworthy is Andre 3000's comedic performance as one of Cedric The Entertainer's goons. Speaking of Cedric, he plays an Ivy League educated Suge Knight character who mixes eloquent (and boring) rants with thug violence during confrontations with his enemies. It's clear that his character is trying to buck some stereotypical thing about the rap business but it really doesn't work for Cedric's character. He'll never be a thug, no matter how smart and educated he is "ironically" supposed to be.
Anyway, the rest of the film is pretty boring. I had high expectations considering all of the stars in the movie. Well, that didn't matter. The reason I first wanted to see this film was just to see The Rock slap his backside in tight polyester pants and say, "Smokin'!" while he gives that million dollar smile. This is light fare for when you want a few chuckles, but the comedic parts are few and far between, and in between them is a really shitty performance of Milian with Aerosmith, a sort of cool yet boring dance number between Thurman and Travolta, and some not-so-intriguing dirty double crossing stuff that "needs" to happen in order to advance the plot.
If you're a fan of The Rock, you really can't miss his performance as a big sweet and naïve gay man who kills in his rendition of "You Ain't Woman Enough To Take My Man." This guy can be ANYBODY and still be sexy. Even if you don't want to jump his bones like I do, check out Be Cool to check him out. You have to see it to believe it.Read full review
Streetwise mobster-turned-movie producer Chili Palmer is back, but this time Chili has abandoned the fickle movie industry and veered into the music business, tangling with Russian mobsters and gangsta rappers and taking a talented, feisty young singer named Linda Moon under his wing. From the recording studio to an Aerosmith concert to the MTV Music Awards, he manipulates events to watch them play out the Chili way, using his signature blend of wiseguy skills and negotiation tactics. It's a dangerous business, and everyone's looking for their next big hit. Be Cool is a fairly harmless and forgettable comedy.
I enjoyed Elmore Leonards Book and the Humorous lines of His Characters, BUT thought the Movie went Overboard / Hollywood on the "Humour" !! Great Cast of Actor / Actresses though, but It Fell Flat with me ?? Or Maybe just me ??
I bought the Be Cool dvd movie four weeks ago and immediately I was impressed with the number of features available on this dvd movie. It has an excellent cast and great choice of characters. The dvd has great features, graphic, and plot. Overall, I'd recommend this movie to someone else if they're on a budget.